Music – Comic Plughttp://comicplug.com
Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:40:40 +0000en-UShourly185677913Review Time: HyperX CloudX™ Pro Gaming Headsethttp://comicplug.com/review-time-hyperx-cloudx-pro-gaming-headset/
http://comicplug.com/review-time-hyperx-cloudx-pro-gaming-headset/#respondTue, 01 Aug 2017 14:28:47 +0000http://comicplug.com/?p=4283This week I had the pleasure to test out the new HyperX CloudX™ Pro Gaming Headset! This product is the latest in the HyperX line of amazing headsets.

When I first opened the box of the HyperX CloudX™ Pro Gaming Headset I was instantly impressed. I know it sounds cliche, but you get what you pay for. The packaging alone on this headset was spectacular. Everything was very snugly packaged, making it nearly impossible for the premium product to be damaged. The headset was packaged in a hard shell zipper case which was molded to fit the headset in tightly, making it ideal for travel. The headset also comes with a spare set of ear cups, a PC extension cable, and a detachable microphone.

A big problem that constantly minimizes my gaming time is my sensitive ears. After an hour or two of wearing headphones my ears will usually start to hurt, causing me to cut my sessions short. The foam padding on a typical headset will start to push against my earlobes, causing pain overtime. These headphones made this problem nonexistent. The memory foam around the ear cups is amazing! They stay cool and don’t squeeze my ear into submission, making this a must have for Gamers with sensitive ears.

This microphone has built in in-line audio controls. This feature is great for people who have friends over or have animals. I constantly find myself having to take off my headset to keep track of my dogs or talk to my girlfriend in between games. Everyone knows how frustrating it can be to have someone talking to you mid game when you can’t hear what they’re saying. These controls make that another nonissue!

Finally, we get to talk about sound quality! These headphones have a great crisp sound. Once again the cliche line comes to mind, you get what you pay for. The sound is crisp, which is very important when playing any competitive game. When testing headphones I always like to listen to music to see how it sounds, and these passed the test. The microphone has very good quality as well. I was a little skeptical because I have never used a headset with a detachable microphone, but it was surprisingly clear.

]]>http://comicplug.com/review-time-hyperx-cloudx-pro-gaming-headset/feed/04283Dream Gang: An Interview With Brendan McCarthyhttp://comicplug.com/dream-gang-interview-with-brendan-mccarthy/
http://comicplug.com/dream-gang-interview-with-brendan-mccarthy/#respondWed, 26 Jul 2017 19:08:35 +0000http://comicplug.com/?p=4058Hello ladies and gents! This week I had the opportunity to talk to Brendan McCarthy, co-writer of Mad Max: Fury Road, about his latest comic creation, Dream Gang!

1) For those who may not know you, tell us about yourself.

I’m a comic book writer and artist — amongst other things.
I was a dominant force in the 80s ‘British Invasion’ for that decade, but decided to move on from comics and expand my creative horizons into pop videos, animation and Hollywood feature films. I like working in lots of different media, as it stops me getting too bored… I came back to comics when DC invited me to do the final episode of their acclaimed SOLO series.
Recently, a movie I co-wrote and designed, Mad Max Fury Road, stormed its way to a whole bunch of Oscars and ‘Best of the Year’ awards. That was very gratifying, as it took us nearly 20 years to get the darned thing made!

2) What got you into comics in the first place?

Comics are my first love and I always saw the creative possibilities of the art form, back when comics were a ‘cultural ghetto’ and very much disrespected and looked down on by the clueless.

3) Who are your biggest influences in the industry?

When I was a kid, I grew up reading the 60s classics by Lee, Kirby, Ditko, Infantino, Steranko…the titans of that era. Robert Crumb was a huge influence, in that he would put on paper whatever craziness came into his mind. I loved that freedom. The European artists who became mainstream in the 80s were great too: Moebius, Pratt, Toppi and Liberatore were the creative giants of their age. I have a soft spot for Tony Millionaire’s Sock Monkey. I can always look at Mike Mignola’s art without hurting my eyes. Frank Quitely is still a modern master. There are lots of great new people coming up all the time, especially in the indy scene, from publishers like NoBrow.

4) Your style is very psychedelic, where does that influence come from?

Well, Yellow Submarine would have to be the single biggest influence on my style these days. I still watch that amazing movie and am stunned at its endless creativity. Pop videos, like David Bowie’s ‘Ashes to Ashes’, can still be exciting. They are cut to music and operate on a different plane of storytelling. They’re jerky and jump around a lot — I like to put that energy into my comics.

5) What sparked the idea for Dream Gang?

I’ve had the idea in my head for about 30 years! I did originally pitch it to Vertigo back in the early 90s. We were going to do it, but couldn’t settle on a deal which satisfied me. It was called ‘Z-MEN’ back then. When the movie Inception came out, I was floored, as so many similar ideas were being explored and I was forced to rethink everything… I changed the storyline, the characters and the title! I was pushed into a massive rethink, which I now prefer to my original concept. It became less ‘filmic’ and more ‘comic strip’…

6) For those who may be unfamiliar with the series, what is Dream Gang about exactly?

Dream Gang is a new concept. It was first serialised in the monthly anthology series Dark Horse Presents, and pretty much came out under the radar. I did a substantial rewrite and revamped the art for this new version, which is definitive.
Dream gang is about a group of people who project themselves into dreams at night, who assume dream personas — adopting new guises as ‘dream avatars’ if you like — and wandering about in the collective unconscious. They uncover a dark conspiracy to implant a ‘Dream Bomb’ into a young man’s memory, and set off a viral meme that will stupefy the world’s sleeping population and create a nightmare planet.
The story explores the shifting world of memories and dreams — the deep-buried thoughts that can keep us trapped in the prisons of the mind.

7) Can we expect to see more of Dream Gang in the future?

I feel there are an infinite amount of stories to be told in Dream Gang. But I always look for that ‘special’ story that hits a nerve with me. After all, writing and drawing a graphic novel is a big thing to take on, and so I need to feel that the story is worth the telling and by characters worth spending my time with.

8) Anything else you’re working on?

I’m currently drawing a one-off DR FATE story for DC Comics. That’s a character that I’ve always liked, but he’s never really connected with audiences, has he? The writer, Paul Levitz, has tailored the story to my psychedelic sensibilities. Maybe it’ll lead onto something new with Dr Fate. I have had a lot of good ideas for a new ‘take’ on the character. After all, ‘Fate’ is a very interesting theme…
I’m hankering to do a new team-up comic: Judge Dredd and My Little Pony. I think the possibilities are enormous in putting those two worlds together! Reality may not survive such a radical merging of dissonant universes.
The next creator-owned story I’ll do may well be the next Dream Gang — it depends on how the graphic novel sells, ultimately. So if you want to see another Dream Gang story, rush out and tell your friends all about this singular and psychedelic comic book.

Arcane Sally & Mr. Steam is set in Victorian England, where Lord Percival Cawthorne, a rogue agent of the British Crown, and his faithful manservant Runnymede, must stop an elusive mastermind from unleashing Lewis Carroll’s most dangerous mathematical theories and altering the very nature of reality. Teamed up with a mysterious and obstinate agent named Miss Sally, they set out on the trail of a murderer—who has already been tried and executed! In short order, our intrepid gentlemen find themselves up to their cufflinks in saber duels, doomed locomotives, dire mathematical equations, homicidal reanimates, dueling airships, and—most terrifying of all—strong-willed women! By the story’s end, one of these daring agents will meet with Death; the other will face something far worse… True Love.

The script is by David Alton Hedges, a screenwriter from Los Angeles, CA. In 2013 David was the winner of the prestigious Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship, and a PAGE International Screenwriting competition semi-finalist. The art is by Jefferson Costa, a prolific, award-winning comic book artist and animator from São Paulo, Brazil.

We’ve gotten a lot of great support and feedback from people who really enjoyed the first issue—but believe us, they ain’t seen nothing yet!

]]>http://comicplug.com/kickstarter-arcane-sally-mr-steam/feed/04350Jared Leto: The Joker You Never Wantedhttp://comicplug.com/jared-leto-the-joker/
http://comicplug.com/jared-leto-the-joker/#respondFri, 19 Aug 2016 14:02:30 +0000http://comicplug.com/?p=4144Greetings comic fans! Before I jump into it, I want to give a little disclaimer: Suicide Squad is not a “god awful” movie. I wouldn’t say it’s a “great” movie, like some fanboys are saying. It had some fun scenes in it. It was basically The Expendables meets superheroes. So if that’s what you’re into, you’ll have a ball. With that being said, what wasn’t solid was Jared Leto’s absolutely horrible Joker. During the film I would start getting into it, then they’d break up the main story for a Joker scene, and at one point I literally groaned out loud while rolling my eyes. Nothing about this Joker was good. Some of the reasons aren’t Leto’s fault, while other reasons are. There will be a few spoilers, so if you haven’t seen the movie but plan to, you might want to hold off on reading this. Also, if you’re a fanboy, and I offend you with this- Feel free to leave your need for validation below.

First, let me tackle the elephant in the room- his appearance. When I first saw the sneak peak picture of Leto as Joker, I thought it was a joke from 4chan. I truly mean that. Why does Joker have prison tattoos of punchlines and phrases? He couldn’t have gotten them in prison as he’s always in solitary confinement, so he must have gotten them at a tattoo parlor… But, why? What is the point? They don’t do anything for the character. Unlike El Diablo where him having tattoos makes sense for the character, tattoos do absolutely nothing for Joker. In fact, the tattoos make him look ridiculous, and less menacing. Honestly, why do they exist? I can not for the life of me figure it out. Is it supposed to be “edgy”? The infamous one of the word “Damaged” on his forehead is the worst of all. This would be like Sinestro getting the word “Fear” tattooed on his forehead. It’s the type of thing that would get Joker to say: “That’s not funny.”

Do you have enough jewelry on, Flavor Flav?

Then you have the Mr. T starter kit he has on, with the countless rings, and chains (don’t even get me started on the grills). Again, it looks ridiculous and is totally out of character. Joker is not materialistic at all. We all know the great scene from The Dark Knight when Jokerlights all the money on fire. THAT is Joker. If that scene doesn’t drive the point home, how about the scene from The Mask of the Phantasm where Joker is completely disinterested in the millions of dollars the mob is offering for him to kill Batman? So yeah, money and flashy jewelry aren’t really Joker‘s thing. None of this makes any sense, and it’s baffling that these things got green-lit for the movie. But I’ll give credit where credit is due (what little credit there is to be had anyway), the actual outfits worn by him were pretty decent, and spot on. Even the silly purple trench coat is something Joker has worn. So, outfits- yes. Tattoos, and jewelry- no.

But not even the purple trench coat can make up for the writing. Like WOW, was it bad. May I ask why Joker was a jaded lover-like character this movie? His entire role revolved around his endless chase for Harely Quinn. He reminded me of Liam Neeson’s character from Taken. Since when did Joker truly give a damn about Harley Quinn? Oh that’s right, never! I would even go as far as saying that he detests her. He only keeps her around because she’s competent, and will do ANYTHING for him. Unquestioned loyalty goes a long way for Joker. Which makes her useful in the “I’m going to push you down so you get caught while I get away” sense. Or have her effectively distract Robin while he takes on Batman. There’s nothing loving, or caring about this relationship. The love is very much one-sided, and it all comes from Harley. In fact, Joker abuses her in the comics/shows while telling her constantly how much he doesn’t care about her.

So much love. This is real relationship goals, ladies and gentlemen!

The one scene that sticks out is the one where he’s sitting around the knives while his lackey explains to him that Harley was taken out of her cell. Joker is on the verge of crying when he hears this and lays down depressed. What… The… Hell… Joker, crying? Sad? Over Harley Quinn? …Who wrote this, and why? You cannot, I repeat- CANNOT take arguably the most volatile, and abusive relationship in all of fiction, then romanticize it like some pseudo Notebook/Twilight/50 Shades of Grey hybrid. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying show the Joker‘s abuse of Harley on screen, that won’t fly in 2016. But this is the equivalent of making a movie about child soldiers, and painting a pretty picture. You simply do not do that. Not only is that stupendously idiotic, but it’s borderline disgusting. Now some of you are probably saying “But Bryan, this isn’t Leto’s fault. It’s the writing/directing.” Counter argument: Leto said “Deep down Joker is a sweetheart.” The fact that he thinks that means he deserves at least some blame.

While these things aren’t fully Leto’s fault, want to know what is? His acting. This is the final “F**k you” cherry on top. All of this could have been forgiven, if his acting was even passable. Heath Ledger’s Joker was not a fully accurate representation of Joker, and a lot of comic purists weren’t a fan of his script. But he was still menacing, and his acting was fantastic. Ledger made the script work, and gave an Oscar performance. Leto on the other hand was not menacing at all. For someone who was “excited” for the role, he sure looked, and seemed bored. His laugh was so awful, it was almost as if he was doing it ironically, and out of spite. “Ha… Ha… Ha…” How you’re reading that is how he did it. Completely and utterly uninspired. The voice Leto used was a half-baked attempt to recreate Ledger’s voice. His attempt at sounding snarly ended up sounding nasally and full of lisps. He sounded more like a teenager whose braces were put on too tight than he did Joker (probably from those aforementioned grills). It’s a shame, because he could have made up for all the flaws that were out of his control. Instead, all he ended up doing was piling on. The rest of the film was pretty decent, but every aspect of Joker was one big swing and a miss.

Reminds me of a bad music video you’d see exclusively at Hot Topic.

If you liked this Joker, that’s fine, you can like whatever you want to like. But please don’t call yourself a fan of Joker, or his source material. Because this is one of biggest bastardizations of a character in film history. I thought Superman in Man of Steel was bad, but this takes the cake. It’s so far removed from what the character is supposed to be it’s baffling. Maybe the extended version will fix things a bit, but I doubt it. If you want to argue: “This is a different Joker. It’s not meant to follow the comic formula, it’s that simple. Deal with it.” That’s fine as well, you can feel that way. They should make a fat, nonathletic, and unintelligent Batman who wears all white while he skips around in broad daylight singing “You Are My Sunshine.” That way I can say: “This is a different Batman. It’s not meant to follow the comic formula, it’s that simple. Deal with it.”

]]>http://comicplug.com/jared-leto-the-joker/feed/04144Lumo – A Retro Romphttp://comicplug.com/lumo-retro-romp/
http://comicplug.com/lumo-retro-romp/#respondThu, 26 May 2016 13:33:18 +0000http://comicplug.com/?p=3660Lumo is an visually stunning isometric arcade adventure game, that allows you to put on your robe and wizard hat, and wander through a series of fantastic environments. On your journey you will encounter traps, puzzles and more than a few delicious Easter Eggs, particularly if you are a fan of the old school platforming genre.

The gameplay is what you’d expect from a puzzle platformer, structured to allow even the novice to quickly pick up the gameplay and overcome the early obstacles. One of the key design elements that stands out right away is that this is essentially a “one button” game. You won’t be picking up a bunch of power ups or new abilities, but you will be exposed to a number of enjoyable mechanics that you will put to clever use in order to progress through the rooms, find secrets and complete your objectives.

Simplicity gives way in short order to increasingly more difficult scenarios and puzzles, and you’ll need to develop some skills to keep up with the challenges. Lumo offers two game modes, the very forgiving Adventure mode which features unlimited lives and ability to save, and the suitably hardcore Old School mode, which will test your abilities and heavily punish mistakes via limited lives and no save feature.

In short, this indie is a beautiful take on a genre that doesn’t get much love these days. It easily evokes a sense of wonder, and kindles an adventurous spirit. The art and environments are beautiful, and really make you want to see what the next room holds. Music and sound are very much on point, although if you are as clumsy as I am, you may grow to resent the sound of your own death!

Lumo is an excellent adventure platformer that is ideal for folks young and old seeking a bit of fun, without needing to invest a ton of time and energy into a deep story or complex mechanics. I would especially recommend Lumo for parents and educators that want to expose children to games that will test skills and mental acuity, without being bogged down in hyper violence or mature themes.

As a fan of the reboot of Doctor Who, and the Tenth Doctor in particular, my inner Whovian is very pleased with this issue. It starts as a vacation of sorts for the Doctor and his companion Gabby exploring and “impossible” world when three species (human included) live in harmony. A race of conceptual creatures that exist as music and for symbiotic relationships with “cloud cows” and the humans who inhabit the sky city of this gas dwarf planet. Slowly it turns into a world saving mission as crisis threatens three way genocide! Of course, who didn’t see that coming?

The Good:

Great jumping on point for new readers

As a new number 1, and start of a two part story, this issue is great for new readers. It marks the second year in the Doctor’s journey with companion Gabby Gonzalez, but does require any foreknowledge of their relationship or journey to appreciate.

Setting

The dwarf giant Wupatki is breathtaking in concept and design. The colors are bright and relaxing giving into that vacation feel that the Doctor promises Gabby.

The planets inhabitants are also really cool. The Shant’ee in particular who are literally music. The locals refer to them as Windsong.

The Doctor

The doctor is as close to Tennant in comic form as I think we can hope for. His charisma and optimism is spot on. As are his mannerisms and language.

Gabby Gonzalez

Gabby is the real highlight for me though. Being of an artistic mind she expresses an appreciation for things in a way that is so rare to find in Sci-Fi stories and is truly refreshing. Her worldview I think is one of the most important elements of this story as she appreciates the concept of creatures of living music like no other.

I personally have a hard time expressing my thoughts on artistic things and it’s great to have a character who can explain to me why I love what I’m looking at, who gives my feeling words. (Not unlike a special someone in my life).

Plot Flow

The way the story moves forward, from a relaxing tone slowly crescendoing into a brilliant cliffhanger is pretty darn poetic. For a story about music, in a sense, to flow like a song shows impressive writing and artistic prowess from the creative team.

The Bad:

The only really problem I had with this issue is an over use of Techno-babble. Which as a Whovian I expect to some degree, but I also expected the Doctor to give me a lay-mans translation so as not to jar me from the story like it did. Luckily this only really happens in the first few pages.

The Verdict:

A excellent starting point and poetic plot line coupled with a brilliant cliffhanger and that distinct Doctor Who feel.

The cocky hero who says whatever is on his mind no matter who it pisses off; the ego on these two tabloid giants cannot be touched. Kanye’s albums are analogous to Stark’s armors; continually going through changes and updates as the years pass – refusing to stay consistent or content. Both have created their own companies. Tony Stark has made Stark Industries, Stark Enterprises, Stark Solutions, and Stark Resilient; Kanye has made his own label GOOD music, his clothing line Yeezy Season 1, and design company DONDA.

Whether you like them or not, both continue to break records and sell their product efficiently. Always controversial with household names worth an ungodly amount of money, everyone knows Kanye and Stark. Plus, we all can imagine Tony ending an Avengers meeting with, “I’m happy for you, and Imma let you finish, but The Vision is the best artificial intelligence of all time.”

Harley Quinn – Miley Cyrus

Rambunctious, irreverent, and entertaining – both could care less what you think because they’re having too much fun doing what they love. Miley and Harley are both highly experimental; Harley has been finding herself through joining teams like the Suicide Squad or forming her own crime fighting duo with Power Girl. Miley has filled seats with her risqué duet with Robin Thicke at the VMAs in 2013, her controversial shows featuring an inflatable blow up doll or penis, and her racy magazine cover photos.

Both bangerz share the struggle of breaking free from their past partners – Harley and the Joker, Miley and Disney. Either way, these two continue to cause a stir and sell anything their visage is printed on. They can’t stop, and they won’t stop. Of course, if Harley starts talking about a “Wrecking Ball”, get out of there as fast as possible.

Spider-Man (Peter Parker) – Kendrick Lamar

A fan of either of these heroes will understand this comparison from the start. Both came from humble beginnings, are highly intelligent straight A students (yes, Kendrick was a straight A student), and both continue to fight for their communities. Their works repeatedly feature relatable themes or struggles on socially relevant issues, often revolving around death. Where Spider-Man is self-reflective in his monologues as he web-slings, Kendrick goes soul searching through many of his songs in the studio, often questioning himself and his actions regarding what he’s doing and how he can make a difference. While Spider-Man continually harps on his responsibility for the death of Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy, Kendrick reminisces on his role in the death of a kid who’s fate he feels he shares responsibility (in his music, anyway).

Kendrick and Spidey have also been heavily featured in other works. Nearly every comic book that’s been running longer than 12 issues has seen at least one appearance of Spider-Man; likewise, Kendrick has been featured in the songs of a variety of artists, ranging from J. Cole and Eminem to Taylor Swift or Flying Lotus. Where Kendrick found guidance from industry giants like Dr. Dre, Spider-Man has found his in legends like Captain America. Anyone who indulges in these two idols, either through an issue of Spider-Man or a hot Kendrick track, can find moments of deep inspiration bound at the core to an enjoyable vibe. If one listens to the latest Kendrick album, To Pimp a Butterfly, it’s evident both Kendrick and Spider-Man understand the signature phrase, “With great power must also come great responsibility.”

The Hulk (Bruce Banner) – Linkin Park

Edging the line between genres, these two are a classic example of the conflicting divergence within. Bruce Banner walks the thin line between hero and villain as he struggles to keep his humanity and control the rage beast known as the Hulk; Linkin Park maintains a balance between harmonic and catchy rhythms mixed with bouts of high energy and screams (not to mention finding the equilibrium of rap and rock). These two also continue to be used as a relevant social commentary on society. The Hulk examines the results of war, domestic abuse, and the ethics of scientific advancement. Linkin Park has made commentary on the Bush administration, the Iraq War, the ethics behind nuclear warfare, and the corporate machine, not to mention their charity organization Music for Relief (y’know, in addition to whining about break ups and crappy relationships). The level of angst in these two entities is reminiscent of being stuck in traffic after taking too much pre-workout – strangely, this is meant positively.

Both have also spurned multiple off shoots; Linkin Park had Chester Bennington’s side project Dead by Sunrise and Mike Shinoda’s Fort Minor as well as the memorable collusions Reanimation featuring various hip hop artists and the infamous Collision Course with Jay Z. The Hulk has created popular characters such as She-Hulk, Red Hulk, and Skaar, most of which with their own spin off series. The Hulk has also had multiple Team Up series with Wolverine and his own collaborative project the animated TV show Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H,featuring a diverse selection of character cameos. Both entities make room for sharing the spotlight with their contemporaries in order to spread awareness of talents and characters the public may also enjoy. The Hulk and Linkin Park’s fusion of two conflicting entities can truly only be explained as a Hybrid Theory.

Batman (Bruce Wayne) – Drake

While Batman is the most popular superhero, Drake is arguably the most popular hip hop artist in the game right now. The mere mention of their names causes those who hear it to feel some type of way. Drake and Batman enjoy brooding; Batman spends about 90% of every comic he’s in brooding, while Drake tends to do it more palpably with catchy hooks and heavy bars. Both have had multiple beefs with contemporaries. Batman has had a falling out with heroes such as Superman, Dick Grayson, and Guy Gardener while Drake has had confrontations with Common, Chris Brown, and Meek Mill. (Side note: Meek Mill is like the Guy Gardener of Hip Hop.)

Drake and Bats also rep their hometowns proudly with love for their respective city; of course, I doubt anyone in Toronto is superstitious of invoking Drake’s name (but you never know). Both have enemies – a lot of enemies. These two icons also share an affinity for equally as recognizable women. Batman has had flings with Talia al Ghul, Catwoman, Zantana, and Wonder Woman; for Drake, some notable names include Rihanna, Tyra Banks, and Serena Williams. This leads one to wonder what Drake could do with a song about having a bastard child with the daughter of his most hated rival. Ain’t no tellin’.

What starts as a relatively normal summer camp experience becomes a reality-warping adventure in this week’s issue of Rick and Morty! If you’re a fan of the series, whether it’s published or televised, you will certainly not be disappointed. The humor is aggressively on the nose without becoming annoying in the least, and there’s plenty of fourth wall breaking and several plot twists, as we’ve come to expect. So, let’s take a look at how it all shakes out with Morty and Rick in: Mortballs

In typical Rick and Morty fashion, everything starts off pretty mellow. Morty is attending Camp Camperson (the summer camp he goes to every year but they never talk about), and during one of his “regular” nightly outings to meet up with a girl, he accidentally runs into his new camp counselor: Rick. Things don’t work out with the girl, but Rick assures Morty that he’ll be alright because every girl at the camp wants to be with him. Though Morty knows this to be true, he admits that it’s a bit confusing. He becomes increasingly concerned as he starts to hear music and external dialogue in his head, but is calmed by his bunk-mates by the idea of a bikini ice cream contest.

Morty approaches Rick with his concerns, but Rick is too caught up in his own problems (in this case, water safety) to be any help. This causes the two to fight, and Morty storms off in search of his own answers. But things quickly grow dark as Morty realizes nothing about this world is real, and it isn’t until Scary Terry joins the cast that he gets an explanation of what’s really going on. The kicker: Morty is the only one who can save the universe…. by killing everyone. I won’t spoil the fun, but I will say you should look forward to death via toilet, kraken, and autoerotic asphyxiation.

Thoughts:

This is a pretty Morty-heavy issue, which is nice. Rick is still relevant, but he’s definitely a secondary character. We get a good look into Morty’s head here, which gives the reader a neat feeling of uncertainty throughout the issue. As the world starts to make less and less sense, you become uneasy with accepting the reality you’ve been thrown into, and that’s exactly the point. This series counts on the intelligence of its audience to improve its own experience. You’re easily led to believe all the interdimensional travel, hyper-advanced technology, and otherworldly creatures are plausible, but the writing beautifully shies you away from preposterous ideas like Morty being desirable. And that writing finesse is exactly what makes the series such an amazing read.

As I mentioned earlier, the direct comedy style of Rick and Morty isn’t overbearing because they do it right. And the writer’s self-critical nods lend perfectly to the twists throughout. Rick remains the smartest person in the room, and therefore takes no interest in Morty’s silly problems. This allows Morty to be the star this week, and so we get all the kooky humor of an insecure fourteen year old boy. Definitely another winner from the folks over at Oni Press, so be sure to grab a copy!

OVERALL: 9.5/10

Bonus Round!

As with all the other issues of Rick and Morty, this week’s contained a short ancillary story at the end. This week’s short is… Beth and the Beths! Here we have Beth performing a rock concert with other Beths (the Beth we know plays drums!). A fight breaks out, and after all is said and done, we’re shown a bit of depth to her character. These shorts are always amusing, and this one does not disappoint.

]]>http://comicplug.com/first-look-rick-and-morty/feed/01430Geek Fuel June 2015 Box Reviewhttp://comicplug.com/geek-fuel-june-2015-box-review/
http://comicplug.com/geek-fuel-june-2015-box-review/#respondTue, 21 Jul 2015 21:48:17 +0000http://comicplug.com/?p=875Geek Fuel sent us one of their monthly subscription boxes to review for them. We were not paid for this review and all opinions are our own. We were not persuaded in any way to leave a positive review.

Hello readers! Today we have for you a review of Geek Fuel’s June subscription box. The theme on this box is the 90’s, my hometown time period! Lets get right into it by discussing the major items that were in here.

My favorite item in the box by far! A downloadable game code with a key, key chain (clever).

This game is a retro-style action platformer. A great start for this subscription box! After playing the game for a while, it is quite entertaining and has some awesome music. Overall this game is very well received after checking some reviews on Steam as well. This game is a very cool very well chosen addition to this 90’s themed box.

The next items in this box were the original two Jurassic Park books. These books are best sellers, and amazing reads. If you haven’t checked them out in the 25 years they’ve been around, I highly recommend them. One of the only problems I had with this box was there being two books inside. In my opinion I would have rather of seen one book and another item instead of a second book.

The next awesome item in this crate was a pretty unique t-shirt. My favorite part of subscription boxes are usually the clothing that can be inside them as it allows you to really pursue your inner geek! Keeping with the theme, this shirt is a throwback X-Files reference. Awesome design, awesome reference.

This subscription box also came with some fun to play with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’s themed ooze.

Not gonna lie, I literally sat on my couch and played with this stuff for about an hour. It’s another throwback reference and a Geek Fuel exclusive! I remember a lot of products like this being around in the 90’s and it was great to feel like a kid again and have some good ol’ fashioned oozing fun!

Geek Fuel also has their own magazine which they include in each box.

This months issue had some awesome stuff in it including an overview of Denver Comic Con, the top ten 90’s cartoons, and some neat gift ideas.

Along with all this cool stuff, there was also some assorted trinkets like Mortal Kombat Bookmarks and a Power Rangers magnet.

In addition, Geek Fuel sent us a special bonus item! A Retro Gaming Magazine, filled with some cool old school video game intel.

Overall I enjoyed this box a lot! It had a lot more items inside the box than I expected. Overall I’d give it a 9.5/10 simply because I personally would have preferred something else over the second Jurassic Park book, but I’m sure plenty of subscribers will really appreciate them.

]]>http://comicplug.com/geek-fuel-june-2015-box-review/feed/0875“Death Head”: An Interview with Nick and Zack Kellerhttp://comicplug.com/death-head-an-interview-with-nick-and-zack-keller/
http://comicplug.com/death-head-an-interview-with-nick-and-zack-keller/#respondSun, 12 Jul 2015 01:43:25 +0000http://comicplug.com/?p=770I had the opportunity this week to talk to the Keller brothers about their upcoming book, Death Head!

Rob(what a cool name!): So for those who don’t know who you are, can you explain a little about yourselves?

Nick Keller: I went to USC and I studied Music Composing, which is part of what I do for work. I compose for commercials and different web series and ads and whatnot. I also started writing with Zack recently!

Zack Keller: Yeah, if you don’t know, Nick and I are brothers. I also went to USC for the film production program there. Then I actually started my career in animation, I used to work for Pixar. That kinda led me down a rabbit hole. I worked for a bunch of different animation companies and started my own web series, ‘Dick Figures’. I’ve kind of always been in the animation, illustration, writing side.Then about a year ago, Nick and I got the chance to work on a comic together and it’s been an amazing journey ever since.

Rob: So what are you two currently working on besides Death Head?

Nick: This is my main focus for the time being. Most of the things I work on are music related, but writing wise, this is our biggest focus.

Rob: So Death Head hasn’t been released yet. Tell us a little bit of a synopsis of what it’s about.

Nick: The first issue starts with two members of the Burton family heading into the forest on a camping trip and they come across an abandoned town. In the town they find a mask and they bring it back with them. That’s when things kinda go to hell for them and the Plague Doctor, this mysterious creature starts coming after them. Then there’s two other story lines with their kids, who are introduced into the story and that kind of happens as the book goes on.

Zack: The goal for the first issue is to set up the four different members of the Burton family. They all have their own story lines which at first don’t seem to have anything to do with each other. But as they start unfolding you realize that it’s part of this grand plot line and mystery of who is this Plague Doctor.

Rob: What gave you guys the idea for something dark like this that is so different from something like ‘Dick Figures’?

Nick: I’m drawn to more dark stories where Zack is more on the comedy side. We were on a walk just chatting about story ideas and it kinda just spiraled organically.

Rob: What would you say was your “we did it” moment for getting this story out there since you don’t come from a comic background?

Zack: We’ve been pitching ideas for a long time. We just started making things on our own. We happened to meet the President of Dark Horse from a friend of a friend. We pitched it to him directly and he really liked it. It’s really inspiring to see people make their own stuff and people take notice of that.

Nick: Mostly just the comic. I think we’re really excited for it finally coming out next week and we just want people to tell us what they think about it. Good or bad just let us know what you think. We’re really interested!

Zack: People can find Death Head anywhere on social media. Nick and I are pretty active on Twitter. We’d love to talk to people about it!

Thanks Nick and Zack for taking the time to talk! Make sure to get your copies of Death Head this upcoming Wednesday!!